Ancient History: Greece : The Archaic Period (750- 480 BCE)

Study concepts, example questions & explanations for Ancient History: Greece

varsity tutors app store varsity tutors android store

Example Questions

Example Question #61 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

Which of these is not one of the ancient Greek Gods?

Possible Answers:

Mars

Zeus

Apollo

Athena

Artemis

Correct answer:

Mars

Explanation:

Of these ancient Greek Gods only Mars is incorrect. Mars was the Roman name for the ancient Greek God of war, Ares. The Romans adopted the same pantheon of Gods as the ancient Greeks, although all their Gods had different names. 

Example Question #62 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

In Greek mythology, as told by Hesiod, Zeus comes to power __________.

Possible Answers:

because he is the wisest and most knowledgeable of all the Gods

because he is the strongest and most violent of all the Gods

by overthrowing his father, Kronos

because he is elected to rule by the other Gods

by overthrowing Hades and condemning him to the underworld

Correct answer:

by overthrowing his father, Kronos

Explanation:

In Greek mythology, as told by Hesiod in The Theogony, Zeus comes to power by overthrowing his father, Kronos. Kronos himself came to power by overthrowing the God Sky. In Greek mythology, the Gods experience a very-human existence, full of power struggles, violence, love, and betrayal.

Example Question #63 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

Lyric poetry first emerged in Greece during the __________.

Possible Answers:

Bronze Age

Hellenistic Era

Archaic Era

Mycenaean Age

Classical Era

Correct answer:

Archaic Era

Explanation:

Lyric poetry first emerged in Greece during the Archaic Era. Lyric poetry was distinct from the earlier narrative epics of Homer and Hesiod in several ways. Firstly, it was much shorter and employed different types of rhythm and meter. Secondly, lyric poetry was generally accompanied by music and often performed by large groups of people.

Example Question #64 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

Which of these statements about lyric poetry is inaccurate?

Possible Answers:

It was primarily concerned with mankind’s relationship with the Gods.

It was often accompanied with music.

It often focused on individual feeling and motivations.

It is characterized by rhythmic diversity.

It was much shorter than the narrative epics of Homer.

Correct answer:

It was primarily concerned with mankind’s relationship with the Gods.

Explanation:

Lyric poetry was often accompanied by music and was much shorter than the epics of Homer and Hesiod. It is also generally characterized by a rhythmic diversity that was unprecedented at the time. Additionally, whilst the earlier narrative epics of Homer and Hesiod were primarily concerned with mankind’s relationship with the Gods, lyric poetry was more concerned with the feelings and motivations of individual Greeks. In this sense, lyric poetry may be understood as part of a greater cultural awakening of the importance of the individual in the Greek world (the legacy of which is still relevant in the modern western world).

Example Question #171 : Ancient History: Greece

During the Archaic Era, ancient Greek thinkers were coming to the revolutionary belief that __________.

Possible Answers:

all individuals should suppress their personal goals and desires for the betterment of the community

perhaps the world was not created by the Gods, but was infact the result of a series of natural processes

mankind’s fate was controlled by the Gods who needed to be placated in order to gain favor

nature operates according to a set of universal laws that are not random and can be understood by humans

the afterlife was only open to virtuous members of society who adhered to the rules set down by the Gods

Correct answer:

nature operates according to a set of universal laws that are not random and can be understood by humans

Explanation:

During the Archaic Era there were many massive developments in the way that Greek thinkers understood the world around them. One such development was the revolutionary belief that nature operates according to a set of universal laws that are neither random nor esoteric. This represents a radical departure from earlier understanding which declared that nature operated according to the caprice of the Gods and was governed by seemingly random forces.

Example Question #64 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

Sappho is most famous for __________.

Possible Answers:

leading a slave revolt in Athens during the eighth century

leading the defense of Athens during the Peloponnesian War

her contributions to the development of Stoicism

her romantic lyric poetry

sparking a rebellion of the Messenians against their Spartan rulers

Correct answer:

her romantic lyric poetry

Explanation:

Sappho is one of the most famous lyric poets of the Archaic Era. Her poems focus heavily on romance and love and emphasize the feelings and motivations of individuals. In this sense she is indicative of a wider philosophical change going on in the Greek-speaking world during the Archaic Era — namely the celebration of the individual and the assertion of an individual’s rights and power.

Example Question #61 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

The behavioral code depicted in the Homeric epics reflects __________.

Possible Answers:

the social values present during the Minoan Era

the relationship between the Homeric epics and the New Kingdom of Egypt

the social values present during the Mycenaean Era

the relationship between the Homeric epics and the Cycladic civilization

the social values present during the Greek Dark Ages

Correct answer:

the social values present during the Greek Dark Ages

Explanation:

The Homeric epics (The Iliad and The Odyssey) were written during the waning years of the Greek Dark Ages or at the beginning of the Archaic Era (depending on how you define these periods). The Homeric epics tell the tale of a war that took place during the Mycenaean Era, but they nonetheless reflect the social values that were present at the time of writing, during the Greek Dark Ages. This is why the Homeric epics feature such an emphasis on honor and noble behavior.

Example Question #65 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

The ancient Athenian, Aeschylus is most famous for his contributions to __________.

Possible Answers:

drama

republicanism

philosophy

engineering

political theory

Correct answer:

drama

Explanation:

Aeschylus is most famous for his contributions to drama. He is one of the most famous tragedians in ancient Greek history and his plays are the earliest surviving examples of Greek tragedy. His most famous work is Oresteia.

 

Example Question #66 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

Which mythological hero was famously sentenced to perform ten labours –including the slaying of the Nemean Lion and the Lernaean Hydra– and had his deeds chronicled in a poem by Peisander?

Possible Answers:

Persues

Jason and the Argonauts

Paris of Troy

Apollo

Hercules

Correct answer:

Hercules

Explanation:

Hercules performed the Ten Labors and famously wore the skin of the Nemean Lion, so he would be the best choice. Apollo was the god of music and medicine - not a hero at all - so he would not be a good choice. Perseus and Jason were both Greek heroes of great renown but they did not perform the Ten Labors, so they would not be good answers. Lastly, Paris of Troy played an important role in The Iliad but he did not perform the Ten Labors, so he would not be a good choice either.

Example Question #67 : The Archaic Period (750 480 Bce)

The Archaic Age derives its name from __________.

Possible Answers:

military history

scientific history

philosophy

political history

art history

Correct answer:

art history

Explanation:

The term Archaic Age means “Old-fashioned era.” The Archaic Age stretches from approximately 750 BCE to 500 BCE. The term “archaic” originates in scholars of art history. The artwork of the seventh and sixth centuries was deemed to be more “old-fashioned” and “less lifelike” than the artwork of the fifth and fourth centuries (the so-called Classical Age).

Learning Tools by Varsity Tutors